Signs popping up around town are church youth group's endeavor

An "In God We Trust" sign is shown in the front yard of a home on Southeast 30th Place in the Quail Hollow subdivision in Ocala on Thursday.

Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Star-Banner

By Andy FillmoreCorrespondent

Published: Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 4:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 4:52 p.m.

Church of Hope youth pastor Matt Overfelt wants his group’s message of trust and hope to become a sign of the times.

Facts

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For more information about the Church of Hope sign project to benefit a mission trip, call 369-4673 or visit www.hopeinocala.com.

Yard signs bearing the words “In God We Trust” are popping up in neighborhoods around the city as part of a fundraising and awareness effort by the youth of the non-denominational church.

Overfelt, 25, is spearheading the drive by the 120-member group of mostly middle and high school students to sell the signs to fund a missionary trip for about 30 youth group members to Chinandega, Nicaragua.

Overfelt said he has seen families “living around a landfill dump near Chinandega since they were placed there during the 2004 hurricanes.” He said the conditions were “deplorable.”

The mission trip, planned for July, will provide essentials such as bowls and shoes, and give the students a chance to do volunteer work including building improvements.

“ ‘In God We Trust’ is more than the message on our money. We are hoping to reach out to the entire community to support our ministry to the people and children of Nicaragua,” Overfelt said.

He said about 200 of the plastic yard signs have been printed. They are being sold by donation, which is typically around $10. The goal is to sell 1,000 signs. The endeavor is not tied to any national or similar campaign, Overfelt said.

And because “it’s a powerful message of trusting in the Lord in uncertain times,” Lovell said.

Church member Kay Burdeshaw, the parent of youth group member Kristina Burdeshaw, said she bought a sign and placed it in the front yard of her Stonecrest home. “My neighbor asked about it and purchased three signs,” she said.

Overfelt hopes the spirit the signs evoke might be similar to people displaying the American flag after 9/11, “especially with the events in Boston,” he said.

The upcoming mission trip will expand on the Church of Hope’s continuing outreach, including their “3G — Go, Gather and Give” community service day each Super Bowl Sunday.

“We want people to know we intend to serve both here and in Nicaragua,” Overfelt said.

He said that on the youth group’s 2012 mission trip, volunteers painted a hospital near Leon, Nicaragua, and partnered with numerous churches to feed “as many as 10,000 children.”

Joshua LaSelva, 16, a junior at Forest High, was on that trip.

“We provided about 400 pairs of shoes for children around Leon and washed their feet,” he said, adding that the trip made him more aware of needs in Ocala.

“It’s encouraging to go through neighborhoods and feel like a sports team, with people showing the signs and being a driving force in supporting our efforts,” he said of the youth group’s current project.

<p>Church of Hope youth pastor Matt Overfelt wants his group's message of trust and hope to become a sign of the times.</p><p>Yard signs bearing the words “In God We Trust” are popping up in neighborhoods around the city as part of a fundraising and awareness effort by the youth of the non-denominational church.</p><p>Overfelt, 25, is spearheading the drive by the 120-member group of mostly middle and high school students to sell the signs to fund a missionary trip for about 30 youth group members to Chinandega, Nicaragua.</p><p>Overfelt said he has seen families “living around a landfill dump near Chinandega since they were placed there during the 2004 hurricanes.” He said the conditions were “deplorable.”</p><p>The mission trip, planned for July, will provide essentials such as bowls and shoes, and give the students a chance to do volunteer work including building improvements.</p><p>“ 'In God We Trust' is more than the message on our money. We are hoping to reach out to the entire community to support our ministry to the people and children of Nicaragua,” Overfelt said.</p><p>He said about 200 of the plastic yard signs have been printed. They are being sold by donation, which is typically around $10. The goal is to sell 1,000 signs. The endeavor is not tied to any national or similar campaign, Overfelt said. </p><p>Dave Waller is helping administer the program. Kristi Lovell chose the wording, suggesting a patriotic theme, Overfelt said. </p><p>And because “it's a powerful message of trusting in the Lord in uncertain times,” Lovell said.</p><p>Church member Kay Burdeshaw, the parent of youth group member Kristina Burdeshaw, said she bought a sign and placed it in the front yard of her Stonecrest home. “My neighbor asked about it and purchased three signs,” she said. </p><p>Overfelt hopes the spirit the signs evoke might be similar to people displaying the American flag after 9/11, “especially with the events in Boston,” he said. </p><p>The upcoming mission trip will expand on the Church of Hope's continuing outreach, including their “3G — Go, Gather and Give” community service day each Super Bowl Sunday.</p><p>“We want people to know we intend to serve both here and in Nicaragua,” Overfelt said.</p><p>He said that on the youth group's 2012 mission trip, volunteers painted a hospital near Leon, Nicaragua, and partnered with numerous churches to feed “as many as 10,000 children.”</p><p>Joshua LaSelva, 16, a junior at Forest High, was on that trip.</p><p>“We provided about 400 pairs of shoes for children around Leon and washed their feet,” he said, adding that the trip made him more aware of needs in Ocala.</p><p>“It's encouraging to go through neighborhoods and feel like a sports team, with people showing the signs and being a driving force in supporting our efforts,” he said of the youth group's current project.</p>